Here is what has been going on in Bemus Point this winter.. Gals from Jamestown,Westfield, Mayville , Dunkirtk and Erie, Pa have been visiting the store and some have been gathering to knit informally in the afternoons or take classes on Saturdays at Imagine! Here Amy McElrath models a versatile vest made by Sandy Cannone. This is flattering to all figure types and great to wear over jeans or dress it up over a skirt. The yarn is Katmandu Chunky from Queensland. The project goes quickly. Sandy is offering a class  by appointment so call if you need help with this one.
 Here is Amy again in a cabled turtlenect made with a combination of Lambs Pride Chunky and Crystal Palace Kid Seta mohair.  You don't need a jacket when you wear this warm outdoor sweater. 

One of our recent classes is a no-Knit class. Lyn has come up with a fancy felted soap (as seen in Anthropologie and other fancy stores). The girls made their own versions and here are some samples from that fun day. The soap is encased in roving, then felted (no knitting involved) then embellished with beads. Washing with the soap exfoliates the skin. They are beautiful and practical.
  The soaps pictured are student work from the class.
Darcy's soap, pink and girley
        Lyn and one of her students, Christy, enjoy a creative interchange.
  Cathy's soap is an earthy one 
 
Lyn will be offering more classes in felted soaps this spring and summer.

Here is a link to our Fall Winter Newsletter

http://www.imagineinbemus.com/db/images/docs/winter09.pdf

Sue Sampson made this sample pair for our store. They are gorgeous silk and wool fingerless gloves by Louisa Harding from her book Little Luxuries. They are particularly popular with the young girls who simply must TEXT at a moments notice and they are popular with anyone who just wants to celebrate being a girl.


Here is my little niece, Aoife,  visitng from Ireland, who shows us how they can look not only beautful be very rock n roll..


We have the yarn in 5 lush colors...........about $16.00 to make a pair..........they are done on two needles and go very quickly...

 

Here is a picture of Lyn Harris' fabulous felted hat creation. It is made without knitting but by using a wet technique that Lyn has taught in her classes.....but here is the best part, Lyn's lovely niece, Shannon,  is modeling it....They both look adorable. Stay tuned for felted hats  by Lyn for sale at the store this winter and a chance to learn to felt in one of her  felted bracelet classes (to be announced).

Here is Jim modeling a luxury look from Schaeffer yarns.This one is made from their "Sampler Pattern" The sweater had to be lengthened because Jim is 6'5" but it was worth the extra yarn and time to complete.I would not recommend this for beginners but a great project for everyone else. The picture doesn't show how many patterns are running through the design but there are cables up each sleeve and various patterns on the front and back. I think my next project will be a washcloth, with no patterns.

This past summer Kathy Shomo, who is from Pittsburg, designed a class called "Beading as Contemplative Prayer" Kathy pointed out that all major religions use some form of beads for prayer. She researched and compiled interesting information that she gave to students and invited them to share their ideas and thoughts about why they were taking the class. Below are two samplemade by students  that we loved.




Barb Winkley's contemporary rosary made with floral beads and a lampwork heart instead of a traditional cross





Dorathy Gallo's contemporary rosary is made with a lampwork heart bead, cloisonne  and crystal.

People who shop in Bemus Point,NY often come into the village only in the summer. However, the "locals" sometimes avoid some of their favorite spots in Bemus during "the season" because they are so popular. The restaurants are packed, the parking is premium, the shops are full of customers. There is a lot of fun stuff going on all summer long. Live music on the lake, the idol competition, the smell of great food wafts through the town, the people-watchers are toasting on the porches of the down town establishments meeting friends and making new ones.

Adding to the fun are the specialty shops. When our family decided to open a "store" in the village, we wanted it to be compatible with the other specialty shops, not competitive with them. In fact, many customers might be surprised to learn that the shop owners meet as a group on a regular basis, that we all like each other and that we help one another. Why? because we like what we do, we love Bemus and we really like each other. Take for example a young artist who visited me last spring. She makes beautiful children's accessories. She came to Imagine! because we specialize in hand-made things and she was hoping to sell some of her original designs in our store. We really were attracted to her work, but we immediately "hooked her up" with Kim Walters who owns the Children's Shoppe and where her pieces are now featured. As soon as we saw them, we knew that is where they belong. This attitude of sharing helps each store keep its unique place in the landscape of the Bemus experience. While there are some items that more than one store carries, each shop has a distinctive signature.

At some of the  regular meetings of the specialty shops, we often need to work around the schedule of the various shop owners and it is always exciting for me to hear what they are doing. For example, this month Carol Skillman attended a buyers show in Las Vegas, Kim Walters is headed to Atlanta for an apparel show. Last February I was walking down the isle of the Philadelphia Buyers Market of Fine Crafts and someone came up behind me and put their hands over my eyes...I thought, "Who could this be? I don't know anyone in Philadelphia" and there was Carol's smiling face. It was such a happy surprse for me. She was full of suggestons for our store having already viewed the more than 1,000 booths at the show.

 What does all this travel and specialty shopping mean for our customers? There are more than 11 stores in our village and each one is searching the country and sometimes the world for beautiful, interesting things to bring back right here in Bemus. Each store is sending a buyer (almost always the owner) to buy something wonderful, or fun or clever, hot off the artist's brush or just brought over from Italy or handmade in  America buy craftsmen to share with our customers. So come discover with us.!  

The Beaded Forest
Anne Jackson
 (716) 7631246


The Mystery Bracelet

The "mystery" is how it comes to look like it does and you will need to take the class to learn the additional technique that gives this bracelet its look.  It is a fun and interesting technique and makes up quickly.



Wednesday June 24, 2009 10:30 - 1:30 pm.

Class repeats July 15,2009


                                                                                                at
Imagine!
4950 Main Street
Bemus Point,NY 14712
(716) 386-2244

Class Fee:                              $25.00 payable to Anne Jackson at Imagine!
                                                     (deposit required)

Kit Fee:                                   $25.00 payable to Imagine!


Technique:                          The technique used in this bracelet is basic
                                                  stringing. 

Kit Includes:                      size 11 seed beads and 6mm crystals or pearls or 
                                                  faceted glass beads.
                                                  fireline 6lbs
                                                  clasp  

Bring to Class                Scissors(don't forget your scissors) and
                                         glasses if needed
                                            **********************************************************

LOOKING GLASS ILLUSIONS

Original jewelry by Lori Yochim

PRESENTS:

A BEACH GLASS WIRE WRAPPING CLASS
  
DATE: June 13,2009

Class repeats:
July 25
Aug 8
Sept 12
Oct 17

TIME:  1-3 pm

Hosted by: Imagine! of Bemus Point, NY
4950 Main Street,
Bemus Point, NY 14712
Tel: (716) 386-2244

This introductory class teaches students about wire-wrapping materials, tools, and techniques. Students put what they learn to work by making a wire-wrapped pendant using beach glass, tumbled stained glass or tumbled antique glass.

Class Content         • Everything you need to know about wire but were afraid to ask

                               • Tools of the trade

                               • Making wire-wrapped glass pendants

                                (Tools Provided)

Class Size                 Maximum of 8 students

Class Sessions          One 2-hour session

Kit Fee                     $5.00-10.00 (depending on choices)

Class Fee                  $25 per student payable to Lori Yochim by cash or check –

$5.00 Deposit required (please leave or mail to Imagine!)

LOOKING GLASS ILLUSIONS

Original jewelry by LYochim



PRESENTS:

BEACH GLASS DRILLING AND JEWELRY MAKING

DATE: June 13,2009

Class Repeats:
July 25
August 8
Sept 12
Oct 17

TIME: 10:00-Noon

Hosted by: Imagine! of Bemus Point, NY
4950 Main Street,
Bemus Point, NY 14712
Tel: (716) 386-2244

This introductory class teaches students how to drill beach glass.

Students put what they learn to work by making beach glass jewelry.

Class Content        • How to drill beach glass

                             • Tools of the trade

                             • Making beach glass jewelry

Class Size               Maximum of 8 students

Class Sessions        One 2-hour session

Kit Fee                   $5.00-10.00 (depending on choices)

Class Fee                $25 per student payable to Lori Yochim by cash or check –

$5.00 Deposit required (please send or leave at Imagine!)

Tools provided